Search form

Search form

After a strong showing during a televised debate, Dilma Rousseff, a 62-year-old economist, is expected to become Brazil's first female president, according to polls. The bond market is betting that she would stand by policy that has brought Brazil's fastest economic growth in 20 years. Brazilian bonds are seeing their longest streak of monthly increases since President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva took office eight years ago. Rousseff is his former chief of staff.

Related Summaries

Brazilians in favor of impeaching President Dilma Rousseff have decreased, according to a poll by Datafolha. The poll also shows support is building for a 2018 presidential bid by former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

Dilma Rousseff, a candidate for president backed by Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, is headed for a runoff after an election Sunday. She received nearly 47% of the vote but needs an outright majority to win. The Brazilian Social Democracy Party's Jose Serra received slightly less than 33% of the vote, while the Green Party's Marina Silva garnered nearly 20%, much more than analysts had expected.

Brazil's Chinese-style growth, estimated to hit 7% this year, will provide a big advantage in an upcoming presidential election to Dilma Rousseff, the candidate backed by President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, according to The Economist. An expert on the nation's economy said the cost of unit labor is increasing at half of the cost of real wages, plus productivity is on the upswing.

The pricing of Brazil's credit default swaps suggests that sovereign-debt traders expect Brazil's bonds to be upgraded from their present BBB- rating in the near future, investment managers said. CDS protection on Brazil's debt now costs less than that for Russia, which is rated one step higher; South Africa, which is two steps higher; and Bahrain, whose bonds have a rating four levels above Brazil's. Investors are impressed with the success of President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's economic-stimulus measures.

Brazil will boost exports by cutting taxes and offering government loans to companies in about two dozen key industries, including consumer electronics, software, cosmetics and medicines, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said. The plan would cut Brazil's dependence on exports of soybeans, iron ore and other commodities for foreign exchange.